The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-09
ABRAHAM LTNCOLN'S WIFE.
Incidents of Mrs. Lincoln's Remark
able Conduct Toward Her Husband.
Explainable Only Upon the Theory Of Her In
sanity-Gen. Badeau Witnesses Explosions
Of Her Jealousy of Prominent Ladies.
zee of ( he Indianapolis Journal.

NEW YORK. Jan. 8-The account of Lncoln's
love-making in his history by Nicolay and Hay,
seems almost ominous when read by the light of
later knowledge. The anxieties and forebod-
ings. and absolute agony of the future Presi-
dent, on the eve Of marriage--the most incredu-
lous might say, presaged the destiny that im-
pended. For no one knows the character of
Abraham Lincoln, his god-like patience, his in
effable sweetness. his transcendent charity amid
all the tremendous worries of war and revolu-
ton and public affairs, who is ignorant of what
he endured of private woe; and no one rightly
judges the unfortunate partner of his elevation
and unwilling canse of many of his miseries.
who forgets that she had "eaten on the insane
root that takes the reason prisoner"
The country knows, but has preferred to for
get the strangeness of Mrs. Lincoln's conduct at
intervals, after her husbands death. Many of
the most extraordinary incidents in her career
were not revealed, out of delicacy to others and
tenderness to one who had been the sharer of
Abraham Lincoln's fortunes, and the mother OF
his family; but enough was apparent to shock
and pain the public sense, when finally the con-
fict with her own son, so highly respected, the
dragging of their affairs into public court, the
necessary supervision of the poor lady's finances
and restraint of her actions, if not Of her person
disclosed the fact that her mind had been dis
eased.
This threw light on circumstances until then
inexplicable. 1t relieved Mrs. Lincoln herself
from the charge Of heartlessness. Of mercenary
behavior, of Indifference to her husbands happi-
ness; it approved the action of the son which, in
some quarters, had been graveiy misunderstood;
and above all, it showed the suffering Abraham
Lincoln must have endured all through those
years in which he bore the burden of struggling
nation upon his neutrality-suspicious. he knew or
only feared the TRUTH or whether he went on
calmly in the sad thought that his saddest fore
bodings before the marriage were fulfilled.
The first time that saw Mrs. Lincoln was
when accompanied Mrs. Grant to the White
House, for her first visit there the wife of the
general-in-chief. The Lext that I now recall
was in March, 1864. when Mrs. Lincoln, wit. the
President visited City Point They went on a
steamer, escorted by a naval vessel, of which
Capt John S. Barnes was in command, and re-
manned for some weeks in the James river under
the bluff which the headquarters were estab-
iished. Here they slept and usually took their
meals, but sometimes both assembled the hill.
and were entertained at the mess Of General
Grant
On the Goth of March distinguished party
from Washington joined them. among whom
remember especially, Mr. ,Geoffroi the French
Minister. 1t was proposed that excursion
should be made to the front of the Army of the
Potomac, about ten or twelve miles away, and
Mrs Lincoln and Mrs Grant were of the COM
pany. There was a military railroad which took
the illustrious guests great portion of the way,
and then the men were mounted, but Mrs.
Grant and Mrs. Lincoln went on in an ambu-
lance, as it was ealled-a sort of half-open car
riage with two seats besides that for the driver.
was detailed to escort them, and Of course, sat
on the front seat facing the ladies, with my
back to the horses.
In the course Of conversation, I mentioned
that all the wives of officers at the army front
had been ordered to the rear-a sure sign that
active operations were in contemplation. / said
not lady bad been allowed to remain, except
Mrs. Griffin. the wife Of Gen. Charles Griffin,
who had obtained special permission from the
President. At this Mrs. Lincoln was up in arms.
''What do you mean by that, sr?" she exclaimed.
do you mean to say that she saw the President
alonea Do you know that I never allow the
President to see any woman aloneP She was
absolutely jealous of poor, ugly Abraham Lin
coin.
tried to pacfy her and to palliate nv re-
mark, but she was fairly boiling over with rage.
! That's q very equivocal smile, SIR" she ex-
| will ask the President if ne saw that woman
| alone" Mrs. Griffin was one of the hest-known
| and most elegant woman in Washington, after
1 wards the Countess Esterhazy. Carroll. and q
to molly the excited spouse, bat in vain. Mrs
Lincoln again babe me to stop the driver. and
when 1 hesitated to obey, she thrus
| her arms past me to the front of the
| carriage and held the driver fast
But Mrs Grant finally prevailed on her to wait
till the whole party alighted. and then Genera
| Meade came up to pay his respects to the wife O
the President had intended to offer Mrs. Lin
coin my arm and endeavor to prevent scene
but Meade, of course. as my superior, had tn
| right to escort her. and had chance to war;
him. saw them 90 off together, and remained
in fear and trem bling for what might occur il
the presence Of the foreign minister and othe
| important strangers. But General Meade wa
very adroit and, when they returned, Mrs. Lin
coin looked at me significantly and said: "Gen
Meade is gentleman, sir. He says it was not tn
President who gave Mrs. Griffin the permit. bu
the Secretary of War" Meade was the son of
dipiornatist, and had evidently inherited some Q
his fathers skill.
At night, when we were back in camp Mrs
! Grant talked over the matter with me, and sal
the whole affair was so distressing and mortify
ing that we must never either mention it to an
one; at least, was to be absolutely silent, an
she would disclose it only to the General. Blu
the next day was released from my pledge, fo
worse remained behind"
The same party went in the morning to visi
the Army of the James, on the north side of til
river, commanded by General Ord. The a
engagements were somewhat similar to those
l the day before. We went up the river in
, steamer and then the men again took horses an
Mrs Lincoln and Mrs. Grant went in an amb,
lance. was detailed. as before, to act as escor
but asked for a companion in the duty; TO
| after my experience of the previous day, l di
. | not wish to be the only officer in the carriag
So Gen. Horace Porter ordered to join IL
: party. Mrs. Ord was with her husband; as 81
! | was the wife of the commander of an arm
she was not subject to the order for r
turn though before that day was over 81
wished herself in Washington or anywhere ell
!. away from the army, l sure She W
! mounted, and the ambulance was FULL 81
y remained on her horse and rode for while
u hhe side of the President and ahead of MI
s. Lincoln.
AS soon as Mrs: Lincoln discovered this